State Rep. Dan Deasy

Deasy to Serve on Four House Committees

State Rep. Dan Deasy's first monthly report of the new year includes info about the committees he will serve in the House of Representatives.

Happy New Year!  I hope you had a wonderful Christmas season and I wish you and yours a blessed and safe 2013. On New Year’s Day I was sworn into office to serve another two years as your State Representative. Under the Pennsylvania Constitution, the General Assembly must be in session the first Tuesday of the new legislative session, which this year fell on January 1st.  I am honored that my colleagues have elected me to serve as Vice Chairman of the Allegheny County Delegation for the 2013-14 Legislative Session. The Delegation is a group of Democratic lawmakers who serve Allegheny County and work together to address the needs of the region. State Rep. Dom Costa will serve as the Delegation’s Chairman for the 2013-2014 Legislative …

• Photos (1)

State Rep. Dan Deasy

Deasy Discusses the Home Energy Assistance Program

In his November Report to the People column, state Rep. Dan Deasy discusses Pennsylvania's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Pennsylvania's home energy assistance program, also known as LIHEAP, is administered by the Department of Public Welfare and began accepting applications on Nov. 1. The program consists of three components: cash benefits to help eligible low-income households pay for their home-heating fuel; crisis payments, if needed, to resolve weather-related, supply shortage, and other household energy-related emergencies; and energy conservation and weatherization measures to address long-range solutions to the home-heating problems of low-income households. Cash Grants: Program opened Nov. 1 Those meeting the income guidelines for LIHEAP can receive a cash grant, sent directly to the utility company. Income guidelines for this program can be obtained…

• Photos (1)

Flu Shots Available at Senior Fair Friday

State Rep. Dan Deasy will host a Senior Fair this Friday in Pittsburgh.

State Rep. Dan Deasy, who represents Dormont, will host his annual Senior Fair this Friday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Guardian Angels Church on Logue Street in Pittsburgh. Flu shots will be available for free to seniors who present a valid Medicare Part B card. The shots are available for $28 for those without Medicare. Vendors also will be at the fair with information about programs and services available to senior citizens. Light refreshments will be served, and door prizes will be awarded. "I hope citizens are able to join us for this entertaining and informative event," Deasy said in a statement released last week. "The senior fair is a convenient way to get good information to people, in one convenient location. I look …

• Photos (1)

State Rep. Dan Deasy

Deasy Shares Unclaimed Property Info

State Rep. Dan Deasy's monthly column focuses on unclaimed property and how to receive it.

The Pennsylvania Treasury Department receives millions of dollars in unclaimed property every year. The unclaimed property they receive is from checks that were not cashed, forgotten stocks, items from safety deposit boxes, neglected bank accounts, expired gift certificates, life insurance policies and other items that have not been claimed by their owners. By the 15th of April each year, organizations, businesses and government entities in Pennsylvania must file an unclaimed property report.  More than $234 million in new unclaimed property was reported to the PA Treasury Department in recent months. As a result, the Pa Treasury Department is mailing 40,000 letters to Pennsylvania residents who may be entitled to unclaimed property. If …

• Photos (1)

State Rep. Dan Deasy

We Need Urgent Action on Thousands of Sanduskys

State Rep. Dan Deasy discusses legislation that could help identify and stop child predators.

If Pennsylvanians have learned anything from the Jerry Sandusky case it’s this: when adults suspect child sexual abuse and don’t take action, it is children who pay the unthinkable price. So, as millions point the finger at Penn State and vent their outrage over inmate Sandusky to co-workers, many are also quietly asking themselves, “Do I know any child who might be a victim of abuse, a child who needs help right now?” To ask that question is to contemplate a heroic act: lifting an unbearable weight from a child’s shoulders and stepping in to be a protector. Once we’ve examined our own individual lives and cleared our own consciences, there’s another question every citizen has a moral right to ask: “Does my government know about any …

• Photos (1)

State Rep. Dan Deasy

Deasy Discusses New Employment Center

A program launched by State Rep. Dan Deasy will help people in the 27th District with their job searches.

These are tough economic times for residents in my legislative district and all across Pennsylvania. The recession our nation has experienced has impacted many individuals’ ability to secure a job. As your state representative, I want to try and help those seeking employment. With the Governor’s proposed budget and his proposed cuts to education, human services, the arts, and other programs, more individuals will be finding themselves unemployed. The proposed budget will ultimately result in more job seekers competing for any open position. Now, more than ever, job seekers are seeing greater competition when applying for a position. I believe that the Governor’s budget will only make that competition tougher. I am committed to providing …

• Photos (1)

State Rep. Dan Deasy

State Rep. Dan Deasy’s Report to the People

Deasy gives a reapportionment update and discusses education.

Reapportionment Update: At the time of this writing, the Legislative Reapportionment Commission has still not finalized a new legislative district boundary map for State House districts. Therefore, the current district boundaries will stay in effect for the 2012 elections. My legislative district, the 27th State House district, includes the northern boroughs of Avalon, Emsworth, and Ben Avon; it also includes Glenfield Borough, Neville Township and part of Stowe Township, Dormont, McKees Rocks, Crafton and Ingram boroughs and parts of the 20th and 28th Wards of the City of Pittsburgh, including, Banksville, Chartiers City, Crafton Heights, East Carnegie, Elliott, Fairywood, Oakwood, Ridgemont, Sheraden, West End Village, Westwood, and …

• Photos (1)

Public Hearing on Education Funding Cuts Set Friday in Green Tree

The House Democratic Policy Committee will consider the impact budget cuts are having on communities in western Pennsylvania.

The House Democratic Policy Committee will hold a public hearing on state budget education cuts from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday in the Green Tree Municipal Center’s Council Chambers, 10 W. Manilla Ave.  State Reps. Matt Smith, Chelsa Wagner and Dan Deasy, all D-Allegheny, requested the hearing and will serve as its co-chairpersons. The hearing will consider the impact budget cuts are having on communities in western Pennsylvania as the policy committee evaluates what needs will be required for next year’s state budget. The current hearing agenda is:

• Photos (1)